Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Today, I was the guest speaker on behalf of The Museum Community at the San Fernando (city) Kiwanis Club. The food was homemade and terrific, and the hospitality warm and friendly. I discussed how great museums, like the Olympic Games demonstrate a region or city's power, and the ability to accomplish great things.

The Elks Temple of San Fernando was established in 1927, and built this structure in 1931. The historic facility is located at 804 Pico Street in San Fernando.

The Kiwanis Club of San Fernando prepares for its weekly meeting in the Elks Temple facility.

Detail of large wall tapestry in the Elks Temple in San Fernando. The great American character actor Andy Divine was once the 16th Exalted Ruler of the San Fernando Elks.

1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games memorabilia among the treasures of the San Fernando Elks Temple. In the center is one of the relay torches that carried the flame across America.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Interior The Wild Goose Restaurant - Sherman Oaks - vintage postcard Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2012 from Gary Fredburg (click on image to enlarge it0

The Wild Goose

Bob Hall --- Louis Thomas

13302 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, California

The Wild Goose was at one time considered one of the finest restaurants in the San Fernando Valley. It was "the" place for graduation or birthday dinners. I was told years ago that the way the restaurant got its name was from the flocks of Canadian geese that make the San Fernando Valley their winter home.

In a day or two, when the rain clouds disappear (and if the weather was cold enough) residents of the eastern parts of the San Fernando Valley should be able to see the snow capped grandeur of Mount Baldy.

Vintage postcard of Mount San Antonio - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012 (click on image to enlarge it)

Officially named Mount San Antonio by Spanish missionaries of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) or Franciscans, the mountain was christened after Saint Anthony of Padua. The patron saint of lost objects, San Antonio was a member of the Franciscan Order.
The saint, as did members of his religious community, tonsured or shaved the top of his head as a sign of his obedience to the rules of Saint Francis Assisi. To avoid being burned in the hot sun of Southern California, Franciscan friars (brothers) wore hooded robes or small beanies called in Italian "zucchetto".
Brother Eugenio Casano, the band teacher at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks had a cherished zucchetto given to him by Eugenio Pacelli, Pope Pius XII.

Calling it Mount Baldy may have been a very early Spanish rancheros' joke about Mount San Antonio. Some say it got its name by the lack of trees above the snow line. The Tongva people of the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys called the mount "Joat" simply meaning snow

Look closely at this vintage postcard, and envision what the hills surrounding Pierce College look like today. All are covered with homes, commercial buildings and apartments. In the blinking of an eye, the San Fernando Valley's agricultural spaces have disappeared, and soon the orchards and farm lands that once epitomised life in the Valley will be gone, likely forever.

The Museum Community believes our school children deserve at least a few places in the San Fernando Valley where they can experience first hand their agricultural heritage. Protecting and defending the "farm" at Pierce College isn't just a matter of nostalgia but is a very important tie to where the Valley has been, what it is today, and where it will go in the future.

Los Angeles Pierce Community College - vintage postcard - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012. (click on image to enlarge it)

Caption reads:

"Fabulous San Fernando Valley - Los Angeles Pierce Junior College, located in the west end of the famous San Fernando Valley, offers courses in Agriculture, Industrial Arts, Engineering, Business, Secretarial and Liberal Arts. A Co-educational institution, established in 1947"

Sunday, January 22, 2012

This postcard was sent in July of 1920 to Mrs. J. E. Rhind at 205 Arden Avenue in Glendale, California. It reads: "6/30/20 6 pm Newhall. Am on the way. Regards to Auntie, Grandmother and yourslef. Tell Ralph to be careful on the 4th. The Little Man."

One of our first acts, when The Museum Community, worked to clean and organize the historical museum at Los Angeles Valley College, was to bring Bill Carpenter aboard to manage the site. Bill will soon have his hands full moving the James Dotson collection is moved to the college's new library building.

Here Bill Carpenter introduces his new family at the historic reenactment events at Campo de Cahuenga in North Hollywood / Studio City.(click on photograph to enlarge it)

It rained hard on Friday night, and as much as the San Fernando Valley needed the water, Richard Hilton kept his fingers crossed that the weather would clear for The Museum's historic walking tour of Van Nuys. It did!

A modest group of walking tourists joined Hilton, Director of Museum Tours and Adventures, despite dire predictions of downpours. In actuality, one couldn't ask for a better day for the two and a half walk. It was cool and crisp, but not cold.

Joseph Van Wolf stands by the sculpture of Fernando by his father Henry Van Wolf. January 2012

(click on photograph to enlarge it)

A special treat awaited our intrepid walkers, when they stopped to learn about the famous Fernando sculpture standing in front of the court buildings. Among the walkers was Joseph Van Wolf, the son of the statue's sculptor Henry Van Wolf. Joe shared stories about how his dad had him flex his arms and hands as models, as well as how the massive sculpture piece was made and transported to the heart of Van Nuys and the center of the San Fernando Valley.

The December 2011 gift of sculptures by the San Fernando Valley artist Henry Van Wolf will provide historical evidence and inspiration for generations to come. Among the works donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is this large bronze medallion of Lyner Ellsworth Behymer, whose story appears in part earlier on this blog. Behymer spent much of his adult life bringing important musical events to Los Angeles and laying the foundations for a world-class symphonic orchestra for the city.

Lynden Ellsworth Behymer - bronze medallion by Henry Van Wolf - after 1947. (click on this image to enlarge it) Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Joseph and Ladonna Van Wolf 2011.

Initial information about the life and times of Lynden Behymer was provided to The Museum from Board member, Phyllis Hansen.

In June of 1934, 246 eager youngsters graduated from Eleanor J. Toll Junior High School in Glendale, California. To a processional march from Wagner's Tannhauser, students entered the Athletic Field of Herbert Hoover High School. Most listened politely to an address entitled "Training For The Big Job" by Mr. Reynold E. Blight of Los Angles.

1934 Toll Jr. High School Commencement Program - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2012 from Gary Fredburg. (click on image to enlarge it_

78 years have passed and only a few of those who graduated on that afternoon still remain with us, but their names are permanently part of San Fernando Valley history.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

We can learn many things from what museum's called ephemera. Small items, such as ink blotters and match book covers, can give us addresses of business establishments now long gone. But, on occasion, such as this "The Land of Sunshine - The Magazine of California and The West, we can identify important social and economic elements of life.

Take a look at these illustration from 1899, and see if you can identify an issue that still impacts California agriculture today. (click on images to enlarge them)

The Land of Sunshine Magazine - June 1899 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2012 by Gary Fredburg. (click on images to enlarge them)

Raisin processing in California 1899. Illustrations in The Land of Sunshine Magazine. The drying of fruit was a major agricultural enterprise in the San Fernando Valley at this period of time.

Millions of children envied Bobby Blake, the boy actor who played "Little Beaver" in Allan Lane's "Red Ryder" films.

Allan Lane in Republic Picture's "Vigilantes of Boomtown" 1947 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011. (click on image to enlarge it)

Republic Pictures (Studio City) presented Allan Lane as Red Ryder in the "Santa Fe Uprising." Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011. (click on image to enlarge it)

The terrific thing about Allan Lane is that he could fight a villain in a film, and never get his Nudie cowboy shirt wrinkled -- let alone dirty or bloody. Santa Fe Uprising starred other Valley-based actors such as Bobby Blake, Martha Wentworth and Barton McLane. Allan Lane died in Woodland Hills.

An element of The Museum's plans to serve the entire San Fernando Valley, means an assertive effort to effectively expose residents of the Valley to its historical and cultural treasures. This means taking The Museum to the people means many ways of sharing the Valley's heritage, near their homes and places of work.

This last weekend, over 200 visitors to the Campo de Cahuenga reenactment event had the opportunity to see the wax maquette (artist's model) that the great sculptor, Henry Van Wolf, made in 1976 as a tribute to America and his adopted home in the San Fernando Valley.

Maquette of the Friendship Medallion featuring Lt. Col. John C. Fremont and General Andres Pico at Campo de Cahuenga. The Medallion was a gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joseph and Ladonna Van Wolf in 2011.

The display featuring the Medallion and photo portrait of Henry Van Wolf are on loan to the Campo de Cahuenga Memorial Historical Association.

Monday, January 16, 2012

This last week, I spoke to the Van Nuys Rotary Club at the 94th Aero Squdron restaurant next to the Van Nuys Airport. Since there were young people from Birmingham High School at the luncheon, I changed my usual Museum talk to the building of Birmingham Hospital, the strategic important of Van Nuys Airport in World War II, the making of the film Casablanca. Don't worry, I made sure to include vital information about The Museum as well.

Sheet music for "Over There: by George M. Cohan - group dining area of the 94th Aero Squdron restaurant in Van Nuys (click on image to enlarge it)

Had there been students from Granada Hills, I most likely would have used this great old music sheet cover to talk about the great old time actor James Cagney and his role in 1944 of George M. Cohan. Jimmy Cagney had a ranch in Granada Hills, and inspired America with the great old WWI song

The Museum plans to create a mobile exhibit on the life and times of James Cagney. Don't you agree that kids today should get to hear and see Cagney performing, "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy?"

I had the chance to visit a bit with the railroad aficionado David Coscia at this Sunday's Campo de Cahuenga reenactment events. David is the author of a new work entitled "Pacific Electric and the Growth of the San Fernando Valley." The Museum's Public Speakers Series, and Campo de Cahunega's "fireside chats" will be presenting a special lecture and book signing with David in the near future.

Today The Museum Community honors the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the leaders of the African-American civil rights movement. Dr. King lived from January 15th 1929 until his assassination on April 4, 1968.

Sculpture of Dr. Martin Luther King by San Fernando Valley artist Henry Van Wolf. Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joseph and Ladonna Van Wolf 2011. (click on image to enlarge it)

Mr. Van Wolf was the founding president of the San Fernando Valley Professional Artists; Guild.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

On January 5th, some members of The Museum Community were able to witness the winter sunrise at the ancient Native American pictograph cave in the Santa Suzanna Mountains. After that once in a lifetime opportunity, Board Members Scott Sterling, Gary Fredburg and I went to the Country Deli Restaurant on Topanga Canyon in Chatsworth. The food was great, the service super and the prices more than fair. Plied with terrific coffee, we walked through the restaurant to enjoy the home-made murals of Chatsworth celebrities. Unfortunately, I only had a cell phone camera with me, so you can bet that the Country Deli Restaurant will be high on my list to take better pictures of its art ... and the pancakes!

COUNTRY DELI RESTAURANT

9901 Topanga Canyon. Chatsworth 91311

1 (818) 709-5612

When he asked why we were taking pictures, this young worker at the Country Deli asked if

he could be included. I told this the would be subtracted from his 15 minutes of fame.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Two of the most important film stars of the 1940s made their homes in the San Fernando Valley. The megastar Dorothy Lamour was viewed as the personification of the exotic woman. Here she is shown with Satan the Tiger - the best known tiger in the world during his lifetime.Dorothy Lamour lived in Toluca Lake and Satan in Bird Wonderland in Encino (then Van Nuys).

Dorothy Lamour and Satan the Tiger in Malaya - Paramount Pictures 1941 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joan Putney 2011. (click on the image to enlarge it).

Dorothy Lamour lived into her 80s, still much loved by the movie-going public. Her funeral was held at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic church in North Hollywood. She is buried in Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills.

Notre Dame High School was celebrating its 10th year in 1957. This commencement brochure for June 7, 1957 contains the names of each graduate as well as scholarships earned by students.

1957 Commencement program Notre Dame High School - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gerald Fecht Jan. 2012.(click on image to enlarge it)

The 18 artifacts related to Notre Dame in The Museum's collection, when coupled with a manuscript entitled "The Beginnings of the Brothers of Holy Cross in California" by Brother Richard Daly (1967 Santa Clara University) form an important basis for The Museum's on-going history of this Sherman Oaks high school.

Monday, January 9, 2012

The restoration of historic Lankershim Station in North Hollywood is your Museum Community's wish for 2012. Isn't it high time that the money set aside years ago be used to get this treasure of the San Fernando Valley opened again?

Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge speaks of Lankershim Station as a natural "anchor" for the North Hollywood Historic District. Tom thinks that a retired steam engine would create a real center of interest for the site. The Museum Community agrees.

Situated directly across from the NoHo Red Line and Orange Line stations, Lankershim Station is an ideal landmark for the eastern Valley. And... the property has room for the historic Weddington House as well. Let's get the Station restoration going in 2012!

When Chris sent this vintage postcard to her friend Pat in Victoria, British Columbia in 1973, she complained of experiencing two days of Victoria rain in the San Fernando Valley on her January visit. Someone should have told her that Canadian geese come to the Valley in January too.

Greetings from The San Fernando Valley - January 1973 - vintage postcard - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012. (click on image to enlarge it)

"San Fernando Valley State College - One of the most beautiful and most modern campuses in the the magnificent California College System."

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UPCOMING EVENTS

10/15/18 -12/31/18 New Exhibit! In conjunction with National Hispanic Heritage Month - Pelota Mixteca, a photographic expose on a sport that originates in Oaxaca, Mexico.

It has become important to the retention and redefinition of identity and community among Oaxacan transnational migrants who currently reside in the greater Los Angeles area and play the game in the San Fernando Valley. Free Admission.